Any experience of long term omeperazole/reflux in older kids?

[Inbedbynine]

My almost 11 year old had very bad reflux as a baby. His oesophagus was damaged but medication sorted him out. He was on meds quite a few years. I took him off them a few years back to see if he had grown out of it. He hadn’t as his lunch was coming up when he was at school etc so gp put him back on it. Then maybe 18 months ago dosage was doubled as he was still suffering. He’s been having 2 omeperazole tablets a day. A month or so ago I was at the gp and asked her about the omep and if it’s ok being on it so long. She said it wasn’t ideal And to reduce disease to one tablet and go back to discuss. He’s been on 1 tablet over a month and today Iv put him back up as he’s suffering whilst awaiting an appointment. I know there’s a vague operation that sometimes children have but skimmed over that when he was younger. Should I be worried getting to this age and it’s still bad?

Have you looked at diet and see if this makes a difference? For me tomatoes, chocolate, onion and spicy foods make it worse. For my Dd it’s dairy. Ensure you leave at least 3 hours before bed. Don’t drink with a meal. Eat smaller meals more frequently. Don’t race around straight after a heavy meal. Prop books under bed feet to raise head of bed. Have you tried ranatidine instead of Omeprazole? It has a safer long term record.

Yes we do all that, as I said he’s had it as a baby so I know what to do/not do, although at his age if he decides to go on the trampoline that’s his look out! He had ranitidine as a baby but was told omeperazole better.

My Ds (now 19) has had severe reflux since about 15. To be honest I have found the NHS to be completely unhelpful. He has had cameras, barium swallow and pH monitoring. It all showed that he did have a hernia and severe reflux. Unfortunately that was it, they told him they would not operate and discharged him. The reflux is still bad and the enamel on all his back teeth is being worn away.

He lives on ranitidine and peptac liquid. We have gone down the diet route, raised bed and he doesn't smoke or drink like a lot of teenagers. There are no answers so he just lives with it, not pleasant though.

It’s not nice is it! He’s very active as he should be but pays the price. His bed is raised up, always has been, but struggles at night and often wakes up feeling sick

Sounds really unpleasant for him. It's really frustrating as long term acid reflux can lead to problems later on in life. I think the operation they offer on the NHS doesn't always work that well. Both the gp and consultants have just said live with it. Hope things improve for your Ds soon.

Thanks. They mentioned the op when he was younger but he seemed ok. It came back with a vengeance. So horrible to have to live with that. I don’t understand why they are dismissive of it when it can lead to problems!

Has he had a gastroscopy? I suffered from what i thought was acid reflux for a very long time and omeprazole wasnt helping. Had a gastroscopy and it turned out to be bile reflux instead. A change of medication and i finally have relief and can keep food down

He had a lot of things done as a baby. He had ph study’s done over 48 hours, cameras in both ends, biopsies etc etc. I presume that would’ve shown bile reflux?